BARING, Maine — Bearce Lake and Vose Pond in the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge are open for recreational fishing, and Moosehorn Manager Bill Kolodnicki encourages the public to take advantage of the opportunities.

Bearce Lake is located entirely within the Baring Wilderness Area. No motorized or mechanized equipment is permitted, a ban which includes gas and electric powered outboard motors. The Baring Wilderness Area was established in January 1975 and includes 4,680 acres.

A total of 295 acres in size, Bearce is a shallow lake with depths ranging from 3 to 18 feet. Its fish include smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, white sucker, brown bullheads and pumpkinseed.

Vose Pond is a warm water fishery with populations of smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch and pumpkinseeds. The 57-acre pond has an unimproved boat launch with limited parking available. Motors are allowed. In addition to the fishery, Vose Pond is home to bald eagles, common loons, beavers, belted kingfishers, and several species of ducks and geese.

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The gravel access road to Bearce Lake is located just south of the Baring-Meddybemps town line on the east side of Route 191. Vose Pond is accessible from one half-hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset on the Goodall Heath Road off the Charlotte Road in Calais across from the refuge’s Headquarters Road. Both access roads open by Saturday, May 23.

Anglers are encouraged to use non-toxic fishing tackle. The Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge supports the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in “strongly encouraging anglers to protect Maine’s fish by changing from soft plastic lures to biodegradable ones” to protect the health of fish and wildlife.

The refuge is open to visitors daily from one half-hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset. Camping, fires, littering and disturbing wildlife or vegetation are prohibited. For information on Bearce Lake or Vose Pond and other opportunities at the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, call 454-7161 or visit the headquar-ters off the Charlotte Road.